CHAPTER XXIV. 



ABDALLAH. 



Has the importation of any other Arab a similar 

 history, Count? 



" I remember talking with an old sea-captain some 

 twenty years' ago, and he related these facts: Many 

 years before he had been in command of a trading 

 schooner plying between New York and Morocco. 

 As he was about to set sail from the latter port on 

 his return voyage, he had been very busy all day 

 superintending the shipping of the cargo. The dark- 

 ness fell early and the night was black with threat- 

 ening clouds, so that the sailors had quit work, had 

 eaten their rations, and were about to turn in, when 

 the ship was signalled from the shore. Soon a boat 

 lay alongside, and a voice from it desired speech of 

 the captain. After a few moments' conference, he 

 decided to go ashore. As he landed, there stood im- 

 patiently waiting, a Moor. Beside him, pawing the 

 ground and sniffing the salt air, was a horse of the 

 most beautiful proportions, and with every mark of 

 the finest blood. The Moor wasted no words in ex- 

 planation, but requested the captain to take the 

 horse aboard his schooner, carry him to New York, 

 and deliver him in safety to the person to whom he 

 was consigned. There was no time to demur and a 



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